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Best Hikes in Flagstaff, Arizona

Best Hikes in Flagstaff, Arizona

by daniellenfairbanks | Nov 25, 2025 | Arizona, Arizona Hikes & Outdoor Adventures, Flagstaff

Best Hikes in Flagstaff, Arizona Flagstaff is one of Arizona’s most underrated hiking hubs—where alpine forests, extinct volcanoes, and beautiful meadows come together for four beautiful hiking seasons. Whether you want an easy stroll through ponderosa pines, a...
11 Best Coffee Shops in Flagstaff, AZ (Local Favorites for 2026)

11 Best Coffee Shops in Flagstaff, AZ (Local Favorites for 2026)

by daniellenfairbanks | Nov 19, 2025 | Arizona, Arizona Food, Stays, & Experiences, Coffee, Flagstaff

11 Best Coffee Shops in Flagstaff, AZ (Local Favorites for 2026) Whether you’re fueling up before hiking Humphreys Peak, warming up after skiing at Arizona Snowbowl, or exploring Downtown Flagstaff in any of its beautiful seasons, you’ll find plenty of...
Hot Air Balloon Ride in Sedona: My Experience

Hot Air Balloon Ride in Sedona: My Experience

by daniellenfairbanks | Nov 9, 2025 | Arizona, Arizona Food, Stays, & Experiences, Sedona

Hot Air Balloon Ride in Sedona: My Experience There’s no better way to take in Sedona’s stunning red rock scenery than from the sky. A hot air balloon ride in Sedona offers a once-in-a-lifetime perspective of its vibrant desert landscape at sunrise. I’ve been...
Robbers Roost Sedona: A Hike Guide

Robbers Roost Sedona: A Hike Guide

by daniellenfairbanks | Nov 5, 2025 | Arizona, Arizona Hikes & Outdoor Adventures, Sedona

Robbers Roost Sedona: A Hike Guide Tucked away in the rugged backcountry, Robbers Roost Sedona is one of those hidden gems that’s so worth it. Once rumored to be a hideout for bootleggers and outlaws, this short hike leads to a beautiful cave overlooking red...
Where to Stay in Sedona — From Someone Who’s Been 30 Times

Where to Stay in Sedona — From Someone Who’s Been 30 Times

by daniellenfairbanks | Oct 31, 2025 | Arizona, Arizona Food, Stays, & Experiences, Sedona

Where to Stay in Sedona — From Someone Who’s Been 30 Times Sedona is one of the most beautiful places in Arizona — and where you stay can completely shape your experience. From luxury resorts with red rock views to boutique hotels, cozy cabins, and unique desert...
Best Restaurants in Sedona

Best Restaurants in Sedona

by daniellenfairbanks | Oct 27, 2025 | Arizona, Arizona Food, Stays, & Experiences, Sedona

Best Restaurants in Sedona Whether you’re refueling after a red rock hike or planning a romantic dinner with a view, Sedona’s food scene is as vibrant as its sunsets. From creekside patios to rooftop cocktails, my guide covers the best restaurants in Sedona for every...
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a week living in phoenix 🏜️☕️🥾✨ a week living in phoenix 🏜️☕️🥾✨
arizona officially has a FOURTH national park! 🌵🏞️ arizona officially has a FOURTH national park! 🌵🏞️ and there’s a pretty cool story behind how it happened.

📍 chiricahua national park | willcox, arizona

🚗 about 3.5–4 hours from phoenix
🌵 located in southeastern arizona, near willcox
🥾 17 miles of hiking trails
🪨 famous for its towering rock spires, balancing rocks & volcanic formations
🌋 formed by volcanic activity approximately 27 million years ago
🏞️ more than 12,000 acres of protected landscapes

originally designated a national monument in 1924, chiricahua is known as the “wonderland of rocks” and is home to incredible biodiversity, beautiful hiking trails, and thousands of years of cultural history, including its significance to the chiricahua apache.

but how exactly does a national monument become a national park? 🤔

here’s a little government refresher using chiricahua as an example (had to bring back memories from AP Gov in high school, lol)-

🇺🇸 HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW:

1️⃣ a bill is introduced: senator mark kelly @captmarkkelly first introduced legislation to designate chiricahua as a national park in 2021. the effort continued over several years, with bipartisan support.

2️⃣ legislation is introduced in congress: the successful 2025–2026 effort included a bipartisan effort

3️⃣ committees review the legislation: congressional committees consider proposed bills, discuss their impacts, and can recommend changes before they advance.

4️⃣ the house votes: on march 16, 2026, the house of representatives passed the chiricahua national park act.

5️⃣ the senate votes: on september 30, 2026, the senate passed the legislation by unanimous consent!

6️⃣ the president signs: on october 20, 2026, president trump signed the bill into law, officially making chiricahua arizona’s fourth national park and the 64th in the united states! 🎉

and this is why understanding how our government works matters!

we don’t have to be experts on every piece of legislation, but understanding the process, knowing who represents us, and staying informed about issues we care about can make a difference.

📌 save this for your next arizona road trip!
drones are great, but if you don’t have one or can drones are great, but if you don’t have one or can’t have one in certain places & you want drone-like footage, try the insta360 X6 📸✨ AD

the extended invisible selfie stick is taller than i am, but still easy to hold & barely noticeable in videos (like these ones!) @insta360 

ive always loved capturing my adventures to have tangible memories for years to come, and this is such a fun way to do it!! 

places/ things im putting on my list that would be so cool captured with the X6:

🛶 top down while on a kayak/ paddle board 
🌉 walking over a bridge 
🏔️ on a mountain summit/ ridgeline
🏜️ in front of a tall mountain that’s too big to capture even with wide angle 
🚗 outside the window driving views 
🚠 on a gondola!!!

any others you can think of???

comment 📸 for the link and use my code: DANIELLE 

#insta360 #insta360x6
what are your favorite hikes lately? 🥾 what are your favorite hikes lately? 🥾

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